MicroRNA在眼部的表达及其功能

摘要

MicroRNA(miRNA)是近年来发现的普遍存在于生物基因组的非编码蛋白质的单链小RNA,长约22个核苷酸.它们通过在转录后和翻译水平调节基因表达而调控生理和病理过程.在眼部组织表达的miRNA有百余种,它们在眼部发育,分化,损伤后再生以及昼夜节律调控等生理过程中发挥重要的调控功能.另一方面,miRNA也在眼部新生血管生成,自身免疫性葡萄膜炎,视网膜色素变性,青光眼和视网膜母细胞瘤等病变的发生与发展中起到至关重要的调控作用.miRNA及其作用靶点在眼部生理、病理过程中的机制研究将为眼病的新型分子治疗提供理论依据.%MicroRNA (miRNA),about 22 nt in length,are small single-strand RNA discovered in recent years that universally exist in the genome of creatures.They control physiological and pathological processes through regulation of gene expression at either posttranscriptional or translational level.Hundreds of miRNA have been confirmed to express in ocular tissues,and function as important regulators in physiological processes,including development,differentiation,regeneration after injury,as well as control of circadian rhythms in the eye.On the other hand,miRNA also play a crucial regulatory role in the pathogenesis and development of several ocular diseases,such as neovascularization,autoimmune uveitis,retinitis pigmentosa,glaucoma,and retinoblastoma.The mechanistic study on miRNA and their targets in physiology and pathology of the eye will provide the theoretical basis from which novel molecular therapy to ocular diseases stems.